Elizabeth White / Great Britain Hotel, Melbourne

[Jessies Mum]

Have just discovered my 2x great grandmother's obituary notice - it states she was from Scarriff.  Her name was Elizabeth Marie White born circa 1853 - father possibly Francis.  She came out to Australia as a 14 year old and stayed with her Aunt in Melbourne who was the proprietor of the Great Britain Hotel.  Can anyone shed any light on this family please? The Aunt in Melbourne is possibly my connection to finding out more.

[Neil Todd]

Was their Surname Toohey, Matthew Honora and John?

Neil

[Jessies Mum]

This is what I am not sure of, but would be around the time period of 1867 to 1874

[Neil Todd]

Well if it is then their pretty famous people

 

In 1841 an Irish farm servant Matthew Toohey, his wife Honora and their young son John left Limerick to build a new life in Melbourne.  After several years raising beef in the Victorian cattle country and establishing the Limerick Arms Hotel, Toohey became the first publican of the Great Britain Hotel in 1861. 

    After property prices slumped, the Tooheys moved to Sydney, where in 1872, John Toohey and his younger brother James would launch the Darling Brewery, and its famous successor Tooheys Standard Brewery that remains a famous and powerful company today.  This brick hotel was auctioned on 11 May 1864 and advertised as ‘compact, well-built and nearly new’ and comprising six rooms, large bar and a good stone cellar.  By 1968, it was a draper shop.  In 1981, it was a pharmacy.  In 2003, it was the site of Corporate Copying, a printing shop, and in 2004 it is being re-developed.
 I have enjoyed a Toohey's for years, now we have to get more information on who your lot are

Their is another, I Think, Great Britain Hotel. Some Melbourne historians may be able to help. This one was in South Melbourne the Other is in Richmond I think it could be the same area, but I am not from Melbourne.

Neil

[Jessies Mum]

Oh my gosh Neil, this is amazing!  Am keeping everything crossed!! 

I googled the GB Hotel, which still stands, and yes, is located in Richmond - am assuming it would be one and the same?

[cando]

There were three hotels with the name Great Britain Hotel in the period - Flinders Street, Melbourne; Clarendon Street, South Melbourne and Richmond.

The licence of the Great Britain in Richmond was transferred from Matthew TOOHEY to Edward WOTTON on 23 July 1866 so perhaps the TOOHEYs left for Sydney around this time.

Cando

[Ruskie]

Oh dear - so near and yet so far.  Good find by Cando. Great possible link. 

I've just been looking at the two places in Ireland, Limerick and Scarriff - they are not a million miles apart.

A couple of questions JM. Was White her maiden or married name? And what was the source of your information about her visiting her Aunt in the Great Britain Hotel, and the approximate dates you supplied? It looks like the years Elizabeth may have stayed with her Aunt will be helpful in getting further with this.

Did Elizabeth remain in Australia and marry there? Her marriage and death certificates should give her parent's names which may help you find a connection between her and the Tooheys or Wottons.

[cando]

TOOHEY's were at the South Melbourne hotel in 1861 and the licence was transferred to Mr WOTTON in July 1866.

Cando

[Neil Todd]

Pretty intersting stuff, I just Googled County Claire where Scarriff is located and it is not far from Limerick. There are lots of mentions of the main families from Scarriff, some are Mannix, Minogue, and Toohey.

I think you need to establish first how the Whites could be related to the Toohey's, probably marriage.

Have you posted anything on the Irish Board?

Neil